Carol Toonen

Carol Toonen (née Zasada), of De Pere, Wisconsin, died on August 23, 2026, at the age of 83. She was born in Green Bay on February 12, 1943, to Felix and Alice Zasada.

On September 1, 1962, Carol married Roger Toonen, and the two of them made their home in De Pere. They had two boys, Joey and Tim. Not long after the boys came along, Roger's health began to decline as his epilepsy worsened. Carol didn't flinch. Her care for Roger through his long illness was extraordinary, and her love for her boys never faltered. After Roger passed in 1985, she went to work and kept the family moving forward.

Carol retired in 2005 and gave her time back to the community she loved. Her Catholic faith was steady and unshaken, and it showed up in the ordinary ways she spent her days — quilting at St. Mary's, Bible study, and helping with funeral luncheons for families walking through what she had walked through herself. She also served her community as an election judge — where, of course, one of her jobs was making sure everyone had enough coffee.

Even as dementia took more from her in later years, it never took the Carol her family knew — or her loyalty to the Packers and the Badgers. Game day was game day: Badger gear on Saturday, Packer gear on Sunday.

Carol is survived by her sons, Joey (Ann) Toonen and Tim (Amy) Toonen, and by her grandchildren, Mikayla (Aaron), Alex, and Rece. She was preceded in death by her parents, Felix and Alice; her husband, Roger; and her siblings, Eleanora, Leonard, and David.

The family is grateful to Woodside Villa, St. Mary's Hospital, and Moments Hospice for the care given to Carol in her final years.

Family and friends may visit at St. Mary Catholic Church, 4805 Sportsman Drive, Ledgeview, on Friday, August 28, from 10:00am until 10:45am. Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated at 11:00am with Rev. Mike Ingold officiating. Burial will be in Mt. Olivet Cemetery, De Pere.

In lieu of flowers, please consider a donation to the Wisconsin Humane Society or plant a rose bush in Carol’s memory.

Joey and Tim also want to thank three women who were there for Mom without question: her sister-in-law, Linda; her niece, Ann; and her dear friend, MaryAnn. You showed up, again and again, with a presence that never wavered. She won't forget it, and neither will we. Thank you.